CN102066923B

CN102066923B - Micro refinery system for ethanol production

Info

Publication number: CN102066923B
Application number: CN2009801229231A
Authority: CN
Inventors: T·J·奎恩
Original assignee: E-FUEL Ltd
Current assignee: E-FUEL Ltd
Priority date: 2008-04-25
Filing date: 2009-06-21
Publication date: 2013-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 2029-06-21
Also published as: WO2009132362A2; KR20120010087A; WO2009132362A3; JP5457431B2; EP2281028A2; JP2012530485A; CN102066923A

Abstract

A micro refinery system includes a fermentation tank, a distillation tube and a membrane ethanol separation mechanism. A batch that includes sugar, yeast and water is mixed in the fermentation tank. Sensors detect the physical characteristics of the batch and the operating status of the system. The sensors are coupled to a control system that compares the detected processing information to a look up table to determine if the system is operating under optimum ethanol productivity conditions. If the sensors detect a problem with the batch, the control system can add chemical components to the batch to correct the chemical imbalance. The system can also facilitate remote operations by transmitting sensed information to an operator computer and receiving control commands from the operator computer.

Description

The small-sized rectification systems that is used for the ethanol preparation

The cross reference of related application

Present patent application requires the U.S. Patent application No.12/110 of submission on April 25th, 2008,242 (" Method For Using Carbon Credits With Micro Refineries (methods that small-sized rectification systems is used with carbon credit) ") and the U.S. Patent application No.12/110 that submitted on April 25th, 2008,158 (right of priority of " Micro Refinery System For Ethanol Production (be used for ethanol preparation small-sized rectification systems) ", this paper is all incorporated in these two pieces of patented claims by reference into.

Technical field

Present invention relates in general to for remote monitoring small-scale ethanol rectification systems and process system and method from the data of small-sized rectification systems, wherein said small-scale ethanol rectification systems is converted into ethanol with raw material and/or discarded alcoholic liquor body.

Background technology

Alcohol fermentation relates to such bioprocess, and by this process, sugar (for example) is converted into the ethanol that can be used as the fuel of internal combustion engine.Can utilize starch based or saccharide raw material to prepare ethanol or ethyl alcohol.Adopting large-scale fermentor is ethanol with sugar and yeast conversion.After fermentation, adopt distil process with ethanol and other fluid separation applications.Absolute ethyl alcohol can be mixed with gasoline, then be transported to gasoline terminal or dealer.

The problem of using large scale industry alcohol fermentation equipment is the extensive machinery that preparation needs to produce ethanol in enormous quantities.Then ethanol must be mixed with adjuvant, transfer on the waggon, and be transported to the refuelling station.These large-scale ethanol Preparation equipments also need the technician of a large amount of specialized trainings, with operation when working 24 hours every days and monitoring refining treatment process and device.

Needed is the small-sized rectification systems of easier ethanol for the preparation of short run, and this system's utilization can remotely and/or automatically be operated and be monitored to keep by unbred individual the machinery of optimum effectiveness of performance.

Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to by sugar or contain the small-sized rectification systems that alcoholic beverage prepares ethanol.Small-sized rectification systems links to each other with computer network, and described computer network allows small-sized rectification systems and various computer communication.Small-sized rectification systems can also comprise a plurality of sensors that system operation data is provided.Small-sized rectification systems can provide status information, and carries out automatic operation, for example according to storing or required the supplying raw material of wear rate input.This system can monitor the raw material storage situation, and estimation keeps user's ethanol to consume required feed.

Small-sized rectification systems can also provide by the telecommunications with any supervising entity preparation information.This system can also utilize any treatment mechanism to indicate whether to exist any problem.If system need to safeguard or keep in repair, then small-sized rectification systems can transmit the signal of the requirement of indication required service.This system can send information to subscriber computer, thereby so that the user can request service, perhaps in another embodiment, this system can automatically send services request to ISP.

When in the user location small-sized rectification systems being installed, this system can link to each other with power supply, water source and fluid discharge source.Because system comprises petrolift, therefore it should be installed in the position that easily enters vehicle.Arranging of small-sized rectification systems need to be positioned on the surface level, and it is linked to each other with water source, power supply and discharge of wastewater source.Small-sized rectification systems automatic operation, and by subscriber computer or system management operation person's computing machine to system operation monitor and control.Can and control this system by user interface monitoring, and/or can data be sent to computer network by forwarder, such as the Internet.Then can operation information and system control information be sent to subscriber computer or system manage ment computer by network, so that can the remote monitoring operational circumstances.

When small-sized rectification systems being installed in user location and user and opening this system, whether system can enter start-up routine, operate suitably to detect each system.In case system prepares to start working, the raw material that comprises sugar, yeast and yeast nutrition liquid and water are in the in-tank mixing of fermenting.Fermentation tank is the sealing unit that comprises stirrer, temperature control device and dynamometer.Measuring system detects the material composition place fermentation tank, and the volume that mixes the water that makes it possible to begin sweat with raw material.Control system management pump, stirrer, valve, ventilation blower, sensor and electric heating refrigeratory are in order to automatically keep suitable chemical mixture and yeasting.In this process, the saccharomycete consumption sugar, and be translated into ethanol, carbon dioxide and heat.In one embodiment, system can be by detecting the carbon dioxide discharge and the chemical composition that detects batch of material, thus the monitoring sweat.Thereby can manually or automatically introduce raw material by the operation valve that the control material flows in the tank.

System can pass through the output signal of monitoring dynamometer, thereby detects the initial weight of batch of material composition.If input independently successively material composition, then after adding each material composition, the variation by weight of the weight of each composition is represented.Based on the raw material weight that detects, can calculate the weight/volume of corresponding suitable water.Can pass through dynamometer or Flow Measuring System, thereby detect the amount that is incorporated into the water in the tank.In one embodiment, tank can also have the sensor that detects the liquid volume in the fermentation tank.Liquid sensor can comprise the float that links to each other with variable resistor in the tank.When tank was full of, resistance was set to it than low-resistance value.In the time of ullage, float slides along resistance, thereby changes resistance value.Movement down can increase the resistance value of liquid sensor, and resistance reaches mxm. in ullage.Can proofread and correct system according to the resistance value that detects, thus the volume of calculating liquid.

Then, system can mix raw material, sugar and water with stirrer.Along with sweat carries out, the reaction of yeast and sugar produces heat.Temperature in all right controlled fermentation tank of system is so that it keeps the Optimal Temperature scope of fermentation.By monitor temperature, heating system can determine that fermentation tank needs heating, cooling or keeps current state.In one embodiment, temperature control unit is the hot plate that links to each other with fermentation tank, and can by conversion impose on hot plate voltage polarity and content had both been heated, cool off again.During the fermentation, raw material and sugar are converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide.Carbon dioxide from fermentation tank, emit and fermentation tank in the weight of material produce along with ethanol and reduce.By the test material material weight over time, system can determine situation and the process of sweat.

Whether in one embodiment, system can detect the potpourri of fermented ingredient, suitable to determine blending ratio or prescription, and whether batch of material is in fermentation.During the fermentation, from fermentation tank, periodically take out the batch of material fluid sample, and place in the test zone that comprises one or more sensors.Can use the pipe that links to each other with pump from batch of material, to take out sample, and sample is placed in the test zone.Sensor can detect physical property, such as conduction, pH value level, light refractive index or optical wavelength absorbability and fluorescence rate.Sensor output signal is analyzed, to measure the amount of the chemical composition in the fermentation tank.After specimen, system can make sample turn back in the batch of material.In order to monitor sweat, system can test the batch of material sample continuously or periodically in whole batch of material process.Therefore, the sample extraction system can be pumped into a part of batch of material in the test container continuously, perhaps can periodically specimen be transported in the test container.In one embodiment, can directly in fermentation tank, test batch of material, and sample is not transplanted on independently in the test cabinet.

In case sensor is measured the batch of material sample, the characteristic that detects and expection or optimum value are compared, described expection or optimum value can be stored in the numerical value look-up table of in advance programming, are perhaps obtained by the algorithm calculation.Compare by the chemical composition that will detect and look-up table or telecommunication feedback, system can measure the batch of material composition whether batch of material contains optimum mixing ratio.If have essential distinction between the value of the value that detects and expection, then system can confirm whether chemical composition lacks or be excessive.Then, system can inform that the user should join in the tank to proofread and correct the chemical composition of batch of material.In other embodiments, chemicals can be stored in inside, and small-sized rectification systems can automatically join material in the fermentation tank, to proofread and correct the chemical unbalance of batch mixtures.

In some cases, the optimum potpourri of composition or ratio can be take environmental baselines as foundation.Although system can control the temperature of tank, the variation of extra sensor measurement ambiance is such as temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure etc.When detecting the variation of atmosphere, system can have access to look-up table, perhaps obtains the online long-range feedback of the proper proportion of composition.Then, system can be adjusted to the material mixing ratio in the tank ideal formulations under the environmental baseline.System can also open cooling or heating element, thereby keeps the suitable atmosphere in the tank.

After finishing sweat, fermentation tank comprises the second alcohol and water.By Distallation systm with ethanol and moisture from.Within a period of time of several days, the second alcohol and water is heated lentamente, and passes through distillation column by the fermentation tank pumping, thereby produces the steam of second alcohol and water.Because the boiling point of these materials is different, so the ethanol steam tends to rise to the top of distillation cascade, the then condensation on tube wall of most of water vapor, and can not leave distillation cascade.

Because system can be installed on the inhomogeneous surface, and for vertically alignment of suitable distillation, so system comprises the vertical alignment for distillation cascade.In one embodiment, universal joint links to each other with the first half of distillation cascade.Because most of weight of distillation cascade is positioned under the universal joint, so it tends to rotate to be vertical alignment thereof.System rotates freely in alignment procedure with permission only.After aliging, system can lock distillation cascade in place, thereby prevents rotary moving in still-process.

Distillation cascade can be filled with the perforated board of filling material or level, and it is used to the karusen of evaporation is separated with alcohol.Ideally, karusen and ethanol enter bottom and the karusen evaporation of distillation cascade.Water and other heavier material are blocked by filler or plate.In contrast be that ethanol can tend to remain the steam form, and continues to move up along distillation cascade.This helps water is separated with the ethanol steam with other pollutant.

In one embodiment, a plurality of plates are offset in the distillation cascade vertically.Yet, in preferred embodiments, the perforated board of inclination certain angle is placed distillation cascade.Can regulate the hole dimension on the perforated board, to optimize the distillation performance.Problem may occur when small-sized rectification systems has moved long period or of short duration termination production.Karusen may remain on the condenser pipe interior filler or perforated board, thereby causes hole and/or filler to stop up.Then must before can operating with optimum efficiency, system clean whole condenser pipe.In order to reduce this blockage problem, plate can be angled, so that at water and karusen steam onboard during condensation, gravity tends to the lower limb guiding of condensed fluid towards plate.Because karusen tends to move away from the hole, the possibility of therefore distillation cascade being destroyed is obviously less.

In one embodiment, distillation cascade is the multi-piece type unit, and this unit can be disassembled and be many.If plate or filler need to be changed or repair, distillation cascade can be taken apart, and can arrive inner surface.In one embodiment, distillation cascade can have one or more web members along its length.Web member can have any suitable design.In preferred embodiments, web member can be included in the mortise pin that each several part when rotation of distillation cascade cooperates with hook.So that each segmentation connects in the mode of axially aligning, and rotation in opposite direction allows each several part to unclamp and separates along a direction rotation.When each connection segment together the time, can use locking mechanism to prevent each segmentation rotation.

Make the steam that leaves distillation cascade by diffusion barrier, with ethanol and other fluid separation applications.Film may be damaged owing to being exposed to too quickly the thermal shock that produces in the heat steam.In order to prevent that film is subject to the destruction of heat steam, system can comprise and preheats mechanism, and the temperature sensor that detects film temperature.Preheat mechanism and can be the well heater of heating film little by little before being exposed to heat steam at film.Can preheat by controller control, described controller can be regulated the speed that heat increases, thereby prevents the destruction to film.When the temperature of film temperature and hot water and ethanol steam near the time, system can open valve, thereby allows water and ethanol steam flow to cross film.

Film have the less hydrone of permission by and aperture that larger ethanol molecule does not pass through, wherein said ethanol molecule flows through and leaves mouth.Can use vacuum guiding water vapor to pass through fenestra.After water and separation of ethanol, a plurality of heat interchanger and electric heating refrigeratory are converted into liquid again with ethanol and water vapor.Water is recovered, and fuel-grade ethanol inflow hold-up vessel, and available.In one embodiment, small-sized rectification systems storage ethanol and gasoline.In one embodiment, the user controls the blending ratio of ethanol and gasoline.When needs fuel, only need to the refuelling station by flexible pipe and ozzle the fuel that mixes to be distributed like that.

Small-sized rectification systems can also comprise can the detection system element function and the sensor of failure of apparatus.Various types of sensors can be included in the system.Pressure transducer flows for detection of pump, post and the failure condition of motor-mount pump.Electricity and optical sensor can be measured sugar, yeast, various nutrients, alcohol, water and pH balance content.The environment distillation situation that temperature sensor measurement inner pillar, heat interchanger, water storage level, ethanol storage level, thermoelectric (al) cooler, thermoelectric heater and ambiance are inside and outside.Accelerometer or strain gauge transducer are measured fermentation tank weight.Voltage and current sensor measurement post heating element, motor, pump and power supply input and output voltage.Radio frequency sensor detects Wi-Fi or data cell network.By these sensors, can the monitoring system operational circumstances.Sensing data can be sent in the controller by sensor, and the information that detects can be analyzed, processes and be shown to this controller.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the side view of an embodiment of small-sized rectification systems;

Fig. 2 illustrates electrothermal mechanism;

Fig. 3 illustrates batch weight figure over time;

Fig. 4 illustrates the figure of Universal joint structure;

Fig. 5 illustrates the vertical view of distillation cascade board component;

Fig. 6 illustrates the side view of distillation cascade board component;

Fig. 7 illustrates the distillation cascade with a plurality of web members;

Fig. 8-10 illustrates an embodiment of distillation cascade web member;

Figure 11 illustrates the cut-open view for separating of the perforated membrane of water and ethanol;

Figure 12 illustrate system controller and with being communicated with of the control gear of sensor and small-sized rectification systems;

The communication that Figure 13 illustrates between small-sized rectification systems and other system computer is communicated with;

Figure 14 illustrates the sensor for monitoring batch of material fluorescence rate;

Figure 15 illustrates the optical wavelength Absorbing Sensor for the monitoring batch of material;

Figure 16 illustrates the optical reflection sensor for the monitoring batch of material;

Figure 17 illustrates the pH sensor for the monitoring batch of material;

Figure 18 illustrates the oxygen sensor for the monitoring batch of material; And

Figure 19 illustrates the electric resistance sensor for the monitoring batch of material.

Embodiment

Each parts with reference to 1 pair of small-sized rectification systems 101 of the present invention of accompanying drawing are described.In one embodiment, fermentation tank 103 places on one or more dynamometers 105, and this dynamometer 105 detects the power in downstream, and produces corresponding electrical output signal.Dynamometer 105 links to each other with system controller 151, and this system controller 151 is monitored the weight of all the elements thing in tank 103 and the tank 103 in whole ethanol conversion technique.Dynamometer 105 output signals are proportional with the weight that detects.In one embodiment, system controller 151 can enter correction program, and this program detects the weight of slack tank 103, and is offset with the slack tank weight storage.Then offset can be deducted from the weight of any detection, so that system controller 151 can detect weight and the amount that is incorporated into the material in the tank 103.Can when each processing one batch of material, repeat the trimming process of fermentation tank 103.

System controller 151 can provide and show and/or audio instructions, and this instruction can be indicated order and the amount of introducing material based on the estimation amount of ethanol to be prepared.For example, in one embodiment, the user can input the amount of required ethanol.Then the required quantity of material of system-computed expection, producing required amount of alcohol, and guides user is introduced sugar and the raw material of specified quantitative.In order to start fermenting procedure, uncap 111, and sugar and the raw material of special ratios be incorporated in the tank 103.

In one embodiment, sugar is the first material that joins in the fermentation tank 103.Detect the amount of sugar by system controller 151, and determine the volume of corresponding water.After adding sugar, system controller 151 can guides user be introduced raw material.System controller 151 can detect the weight of raw material, and instruction and information about joining the material quantity in the fermentation tank are provided.System controller 151 can detect the weight of introducing material, and can provide instruction to the user, as adding more materials, reducing material in the preparation and introduce speed and add material and stop to add material stopping.System controller 151 can have the visual display that indication adds the volume of material in the tank, so the user knows when to stop adding material, to produce the ethanol of aequum.System controller 151 can also provide whether produce wrong feedback.For example, add too much sugar if system controller 151 detects, then system can compensate the mistake that adds extra sugar by the amount that increase joins the raw material in the fermentation tank 103.

In another embodiment, sugar, yeast can be stored in the container 191 that links to each other with fermentation tank 103 with other material composition (such as phosphorus, sulphur, potassium, magnesium, mineral, amino acid and vitamin), and control system 151 can be controlled the valve 193 that links to each other with container.Therefore, control system 151 can join required material in the fermentation tank 103, thus automatic sugar, yeast and other composition introduced.System can also allow by hand a large amount of original materials to be incorporated in the fermentation tank, then adds the extra material that is stored in the container, to regulate as required batch of material.When the raw material that will be fit to volume and ratio and sugar are incorporated in the fermentation tank 103, close cap 111.Lid 111 can have locking mechanism, to prevent that other any material joins in the tank 103 before finishing processing.

As discussed above, system controller 151 detects the amount of the sugar in the fermentation tank 103, and calculates the volume of the corresponding water of sweat.Can be automatically that fermentation process is the volume required water of system joins in the tank 103.Can detect based on the water that flows into from water store tank 103 meterings the suitable volumes of water.Perhaps, system controller 151 can detect the weight of water, and calculates the volume of the water that adds based on known volume weight.System controller 151 links to each other with valve between water pot 181 and the fermentation tank 103.System controller 151 can be opened valve, and moving the water to flow in the tank 103, and when detecting suitable volume weight and change, system controller 151 can shut-off valve.In other embodiments, can by hand water be joined in the fermentation tank 103, and system can indicate the water that when adds appropriate amount.

When having the suitable mixture of water, raw material and sugar in fermentation tank 103, thereby system can be by making stirrer 107 rotations with the mixing of batch of material composition, to mix each material.In one embodiment, motor 109 is used to rotate the axle 115 that links to each other with agitating element 107.Agitating element 107 can be elongated angled hybrid blade, and it makes the liquid-circulating in the tank 103 when rotated.Need to mix, so that the yeast in the raw material contacts with ferment required sugar and nutrient solution.Although single stirrer 107 is shown, can use a plurality of stirrers in other embodiments, with composite material, and prevent that sugar and raw material are at the corner of tank 103 caking.

In one embodiment, whether control system 151 can mix suitably by rotation resistance or the viscosity measurements batch of material of stirrer 107.Lower resistance or viscosity represent that stirrer 107 only contacts with water, and high electrical resistance can represent that stirrer 107 contacts with the caking of sugar or raw material.System can be constructed to make stirrer 107 and the axle 115 in the fermentation tank 103 to move, with complete batch mixture.In mixed process, rotation resistance is the index of admixture.When rotation resistance remains unchanged and during corresponding to the suitable resistance range of potpourri, material can suitably mix.In case detect suitable mixing viscosity, then material is suitably mixed, and can stop during the fermentation the rotation of stirrer 107 or make its periodic operation.

Absorption sugar when during the fermentation, yeast is diluted in water.This reaction is at the ethanol of the last generation 50% of sweat and 50% CO ₂Following chemical equation has been summed up this conversion process:

C ₆H ₁₂O ₆(glucose) → 2CH ₃CH ₂OH (ethanol)+2CO ₂+ heat

In other embodiments, small-sized rectification systems can be processed fibrous material, to produce ethanol.Stringiness ethanol is made by plant waste, and described plant waste for example is wood chip, maize cob and cornstalk, wheat tangerine and cane stalk, does and leaf or endemic solid plant waste.The advantage of stringiness fuel production is that small-sized rectification systems can be constructed to process zonal vegetable material, carries cost thereby reduce.For example, be positioned at midwestern small-sized rectification systems and can be constructed to process Wheat Straw and corn residue.In US West, small-sized rectification systems can be processed cane stalk.In Pacific Northwest and the southeast, timber can be converted into ethanol.

Corn is easily processed, because corn has the starch that enzyme can easily be decomposed into it sugar, and yeast ferments sugar, thereby produces ethanol.In contrast be that stringiness stem and leaf contain and more be difficult to the carbohydrates that decomposes and separate, because they closely are combined with other compound.Therefore, need specifically to process, to prepare ethanol by stringiness farm waste material.More specifically, in fermentation tank, need specific enzyme, to decompose carbohydrates.Except specific enzyme, the farm waste disposal needs the bacterium of genetic modification, so that waste material sugar in farm is fermented as ethanol.

Using another problem of farm waste material is that it may mix with soil materials such as rock, clay and grit, and described soil material may destroy small-sized refining parts.In order to prevent this destruction, can fibrous material be ground with muller, before processing, to break more subtly material into pieces.Also can adopt the machinery that applies heat, pressure and acid to fibrous material that fibrous material is divided into glucose and non-glucose sugar.Heat and pressure produce sugar and fibre stuff potpourri.Non-glucose sugar is washed off from fiber, and is processed by enzyme based on the fiber of glucose, thereby decomposes, and makes sugar and fiber separation.Then the sugar that separates be the karusen that contains ethanol, water and other residue by specific bacterial micro-organism fermentation.After fermentation, small-sized rectification systems makes karusen evaporation so that the ethanol steam rises by distillation cascade, thereby with ethanol and moisture from.Steam from distillation cascade is processed by porous filter, and as mentioned above, this filtrator is used to the ethanol steam is separated with any residual water vapor.

In another embodiment, adopt different technique separating glucoses and non-glucose sugar.Can be by fibrous material be mixed with the about acid solution of 25-90 % by weight, thus the potpourri of glucose with non-glucose sugar separated.At least part of decomposition fibrous material of acid, and be the gel that comprises immobilization material and liquid part with material converting.Then, be about 30 % by weight with gel by the dilution of about 20 % by weight, and the heating gel, thereby at least in part with the cellulose decomposition that comprises in the material.Then, the liquid part can be separated with immobilization material, thereby obtain to contain sugar and sour mixed liquor.Then, by resin isolation sugar is separated with acid in the mixed liquor, contain the mixed sugar liquid that sugar that total amount is 15 % by weight and acid content are lower than 3 % by weight thereby produce.

The method that obtains mixed sugar comprises that also the solid material that will separate mixes with the about solution of the sulfuric acid of 25-90 % by weight, thereby further decomposes immobilization material, comprises the second immobilization material and second liquid the second gel partly with formation.With the second gel liquid dilution for about 20 % by weight to the about acid concentration of 30 % by weight.Then, the second gel liquid that dilutes is heated to approximately 80 ℃ to 100 ℃ temperature, thereby further with cellulose hydrolysis remaining in the second gel.The second liquid part is separated with the second immobilization material, thereby obtain to contain sugar and sour second liquid.Can be with the first and second liquid combination, to form mixed liquor.The U.S. Patent application No.10/485 that the glucose separation method was submitted on January 26th, 2004 has more detailed description in 285, and it incorporates this paper by reference into.Have many advantages for the described method that is prepared ethanol by fibrous material.Residue, turf-mown thing and other plant remains of tree usually are discarded in and fill in the pond.By utilizing these materials to prepare ethanol, the refuse that produces fills the pond significantly to be reduced, and small-sized rectification systems has basically freely raw material source, and produces greenhouse gases still less.

Fermentation requires to carry out suitable temperature control, to keep each composition in suitable fermentation temperature scope.If the yeast temperature is excessively low, then yeast may dormancy, and fermentation slows down, and if excess Temperature, then yeast may be killed.Have various types of yeast, some of them have high temperature tolerance.The internal temperature of fermentation tank 103 should be between about 60 to 90 Fahrenheits degree centigrade, to keep the Yeast Cultivation survival.In order to increase fermenting speed, temperature can remain a higher end of yeast tolerable temperature scope.

In one embodiment, system 101 also comprises the thermoelectric mechanism 113 that can be coupled with fermentation tank 103.Thermoelectric mechanism 113 is by DC power supply, and the optimal processing temperature in the maintenance tank 103.For uniform temperature control is provided, a plurality of thermoelectric mechanisms 113 can be attached to a plurality of segmentations of tank 103.In one embodiment, system controller 151 links to each other with thermoelectric mechanism 113, and in fermentation tank 103 temperature sensor is installed.System controller 151 receives the corresponding signal of internal temperature with tank from temperature sensor, and whether definite tank 103 be in suitable temperature range, and perhaps batch of material is to need heating or cooling.As discussed above, sweat produces heat, therefore in some cases, may not need tank 103 is heated or cools off.If it is excessively cold that system detects fermentation tank 103, then system controller 151 applies direct current energy with heating work pattern thermotropism electrical mechanisms 113.If the excess Temperature of fermentation tank 103 then can reverse by polarity and the thermoelectric mechanism 113 with power supply, thereby makes thermoelectric mechanism 113 be converted to refrigerating mode, to reduce the temperature of tank 103.When the temperature of fermentation tank 103 was positioned at the suitable temperature scope of fermentation or Optimal Temperature scope, system controller 151 can also be closed the power supply of thermoelectric mechanism 113.Optimum temperature range can depend on the concrete kind of yeast to be fermented, but it is usually approximately between 25 ℃ to 30 ℃.

In another embodiment, system can utilize pump 119, and then this pump 119 makes batch of material turn back in the fermentation tank thermoelectric radiating device 117 of batch of material pumping by separating with fermentation tank.If it is excessively cold that system controller 151 detects batch of material, then driving pump 119 is actuated to thermoelectric radiating device 117 (it is by controller 151 controls) is passed through in the batch of material pumping, thereby batch of material is heated.Perhaps, overheated if system controller 151 detects batch of material, then driving pump 119 is actuated to thermoelectric radiating device 117 (it is by controller 151 controls) is passed through in the batch of material pumping, thereby batch of material is cooled off.The outlet of thermoelectric radiating device 117 can link to each other with fermentation tank 103, so that all turn back in the fermentation tank 103 through heat treated batch of material.

In one embodiment, system can be used for various environment, and can prepare ethanol under various environmental baselines.This need to cool off fermentation tank at high-temperature area and season, and at low-temperature region and season fermentation tank 103 is heated.Can use more thermoelectric mechanism 113 in the system that is arranged under the extreme environmental conditions more.In one embodiment, the user may buy and install thermoelectric mechanism 113 simply, with the hotter or colder temperature of compensation.Can also be by small-sized rectification systems being placed in the protectiveness shell and for small-sized rectification systems adds heat-proof device, thus the impact of extreme ambient temperature reduced.

With reference to Fig. 2, in one embodiment, thermoelectric heating and cooling mechanism 113 can have around two sheet metals 205 of ceramic core body 209 and 207.When charging,

plate

205 and 207 shakes, thereby produces cold side 205 and hot side 207.In one embodiment, two

plates

205 and 207 keep 69 ℃ the temperature difference always between 205 and 207 these both sides.Apply voltage by the direct supply 203 by system controller 151 control for plate 205 and 207.Can be by by the polarity reversal of power supply 203 with the electric energy that applies, thus heating or the cooling output of thermoelectric mechanism 113 controlled.Because thermoelectric mechanism 113 sizes less (diameter is about 2 to 4 inches), therefore thermoelectric mechanism 113 is desirable for small-sized cooling and heating application (such as the batch of material in the fermentation tank).

Thermoelectric mechanism 113 can be installed on the wall of fermentation tank 103, perhaps as discussing with reference to Fig. 1, thermoelectric mechanism can be constructed to thermoelectric radiating device 117.Can be with the fermentation liquor pumping by thermoelectric radiating device 117, to carry out heating and cooling.Therefore, thermoelectric heating and cooling mechanism 113 and thermoelectric radiating device 117 can cool off the batch of material fermentation tank, perhaps by reversing the direct-current polarity that imposes on thermoelectric mechanism 113 and thermoelectric radiating device 117 by system controller 151, thus the heating batch of material.

In preferred embodiments, fermentation tank 103 holds approximately 200 gallons liquid.Thermoelectric mechanism 113 is practical for the small-scale fermentation batch that is in this liquid volume scope, but lacking enough heat energy carries out heat control to more massive commercial fermentation process.Therefore, heat and power system can be used from approximately 200 gallons the temperature of liquid of control with system one of the present invention, but improper commercial fermentation process tank more than 1,000 gallon is carried out temperature control.

The problem of sweat is its not predictable process always.Finish the required time of sweat along with sugar and purity yeast and batch temperature and change.A kind of mode of monitoring sweat is the weight change of monitoring fermentation liquor.During the fermentation, sugar is converted into ethanol and CO ₂, this CO ₂From fermentation tank 103, discharge.Therefore, CO ₂Discharge so that batch weight reduce.In one embodiment, adopt power sensor 105 periodically or continuously to detect during the fermentation the weight of batch of material.Along with CO ₂Discharge from fermentation tank 103, batch of material lightens.System can pass through the weight of monitoring batch of material, thus the process of monitoring batch of material fermentation.Can determine the initial weight of batch of material, and be stored in the storage device.The variation of batch of material is converted into the CO that discharges from fermentation tank 103 by sugar ₂And cause.When the weight of batch of material lowered known number percent, system controller 151 can determine that sweat finishes.Perhaps, when the changing down of weight slowed down or stops, system controller 151 can determine that sweat finishes.Can also be with CO ₂Sensor links to each other with fermentation tank.Owing to discharging CO ₂, the CO in the tank 103 ₂Level is low to show that batch of material has produced CO less ₂

As discussed above, power sensor 105 can be used for the initial weight that begins to detect the sugar, raw material and the water that are contained in tank 103 at sweat.Then, can be by at a certain time interval to power sensor 105 sampling, thus sense weight periodically.By the monitoring batch of material over time, speed can be for the state of determining the sweat batch of material over time for weight.For example, with reference to Fig. 3, show the weight diagram over time of batch of material.When sweat began, the weight of batch of material reduced quite rapidly.The process that is converted into ethanol along with sugar is carried out, and the speed that weight lowers slows down.At last, it is very low that weight change becomes, thereby show that sweat finishes.

Except the weight that detects batch of material, system can also carry out chemical detection to the batch of material composition.In one embodiment, small-sized rectification systems comprises batch of material mechanism for testing 171 shown in Figure 1, and it can detect the chemical composition of batch of material, and can comprise the chemical sensor of optics, electricity, chemistry or any other type.Conveying mechanism can comprise the pipe 175 that links to each other with pump 173, thereby the sample delivery of batch of material is arrived mechanism for testing 171.Mechanism for testing 171 can link to each other with controller 151, and can be for detection of the chemical equilibrium of batch of material in the sweat.Amount or the ratio of the batch of material composition that will be detected by mechanism for testing 171 and the optimal value that can be stored in look-up table or have other source to provide compare.The best proportion of batch of material composition can change during the fermentation.If there is obvious difference between measured value and optimal value, then controller 151 can be pointed out transmission the signal of this problem, and/or controller 151 can automatically join chemical composition in the fermentation tank 103, so that the batch of material rebalancing.By in whole fermentation consists of, testing continuously and regulate batch of material, can be substantially by preparing the batch ethanol.Below more specifically example and the explanation of sensor used in the test chemical mechanism is described.

Although the fermentation tank 103 for sugar fermentation and raw material has carried out above description, system of the present invention can also process different materials, and can extract ethanol by the alcoholic beverage that reclaims (such as the pure product that contains of beer, grape wine and other).The user can be chosen as the function of small-sized rectification systems the processor of sugared fermentation tank or discarded alcohol.In sugared fermentation pattern, small-sized rectification systems ferments sugar, thereby produces above-mentioned alcohol.In pure take-back model, contain pure product and also before being processed by Distallation systm, enter in the fermentation tank, to be converted into ethanol.Multifunctional design provides and has reclaimed sugar or the discarded pure commercial benefit that usually is present in restaurant, bar or grape wine factory.

After sugar fermentation or during, can be to the pure liquid of adding in the fermentation tank.Processor can be pointed out when to add and contain alcoholic beverage.In one embodiment, controller can drive the locking mechanism that links to each other with lid 111, to allow or to prevent that the user from adding material in fermentation tank 103.Because the reaction of yeast turns to carbon dioxide with most of liquid rotating, therefore the liquid volume in the fermentation tank 103 can reduce when fermentation ends, and this has produced and has reclaimed the space that contains alcoholic beverage.Then, small-sized rectification systems separates ethanol with batch of material, and alcohol is separated with other liquid component with discarded beverage.

By liquid is processed by Distallation systm, thereby with ethanol and water and other fluid separation applications.In one embodiment, Distallation systm of the present invention comprises pump 127, well heater 128, distillation cascade 131 and is used for distillation cascade 131 is placed the Universal joint structure 139 of vertical direction.Can keep vertical direction by the gyrator 132 that is installed on the distillation cascade 131.Gyrator 132 comprises the rotor that can align with the vertical axes of distillation cascade and the motor that makes rotor.Any rotary moving is passed through in the rotation of rotor so that gyrator 132 and distillation cascade are stable.Control system 151 control pumps 127, with the liquid pumpings in the fermentation tank 103 by well heater 129, thereby make water and ethanol boiling and evaporation.The liquid of evaporation is directed into the bottom of distillation cascade 131.Along with steam is mobile up by distillation cascade 131, ethanol molecule separates with hydrone, and leaves the top of pillar.If water and other non-ethanol class I liquid I evaporation, then these steams tend in the condensation of the side of distillation cascade when distillation cascade 131 interior cooling.Then, the liquid of condensation can be attached to the inwall of distillation cascade 131, perhaps drips downwards along this inwall, and does not leave pipe 131 top.Distallation systm can also comprise one or more temperature sensors, and it monitors steam temperature, and control heater 128, is in the steam of optimum separation temperature with generation.Excessive heat can produce faster vapor rate, thereby causes more water to leave distillation cascade 131, and the steam temperature of lower temperature can cause less ethanol to flow out from distillation cascade 131.

Still-process requires distillation cascade 131 to be in accurate vertically aligned condition.Steam is vertical uplift lentamente, and moves up at the center of steam by distillation cascade 131 and when leaving from top, its flow path is not hindered by sidewall preferably.If distillation cascade 131 does not become vertical state, the steam that then rises can enter into the side of pipe 131, thereby causes the ethanol steam condensing, and reduces the efficient of Distallation systm.Similarly, the water vapor that rises along the sidewall that tilts from vertical direction may not can condensation on sidewall, thereby reduce separating of water and ethanol.Therefore, accurate vertically aligned condition is essential for efficient distillation.

With reference to Fig. 4, Universal joint structure 139 supports distillation cascade 131, and allows pipe 131 naturally to rotate to be vertical aligned condition.In one embodiment, Universal joint structure 139 comprises interior pivot 305 and outer pivot 307, described interior pivot 305 with distillation cascade 131 with link to each other around pipe 131 ring 309, it is 309 continuous with securing supports 311 (it links to each other with framework) that described outer pivot 307 will encircle.Pivot 307 and 309 can comprise low frictional properties bearing or axle bush, and it allows

pivot

307 and 309 with extremely low friction force rotation.Universal joint structure 139 is installed in more than the center of gravity of distillation cascade 131, so that distillation cascade 131 causes that at the gravity of Universal joint structure below 139 pipe 131 vertically self aligns automatically.If securing supports 311 is installed on the framework securely, then distillation cascade 131 automatically rotates to be vertical alignment thereof.

In one embodiment, gyrator 132 shown in Figure 1 is installed on the bottom of distillation cascade 131.Gyrator 132 comprises rotor and so that the motor that rotor rotates.Because the weight of gyrator 132 is supported by distillation cascade 131, so the center of gravity of gyrator 132 can align with the vertical central shaft of distillation cascade 131, so weight can not cause dislocation.The turning axle of rotor can align with the vertical axes of distillation cascade, and when rotor rotated, gyrator 132 and distillation cascade 131 were stablized, so that any angled movement of small-sized rectification systems can not change the vertical alignment thereof of distillation cascade.In one embodiment, distillation cascade 131 is vertical alignment before beginning to rotate opening gyrator and rotor.

Distillation cascade 131 may be frangible, and in some cases, may need distillation cascade 131 lockings mobile to prevent in place.In one embodiment, vertically alignment comprises the locking mechanism that prevents that distillation cascade from rotating.In one embodiment, system can pass through sensor (such as windage scale and/or the accelerometer that links to each other with shell) sense environmental conditions.If wind speed is very high, system may move, and it can cause distillation cascade to move losing vertical aligned condition.In order to prevent the risk of distillation cascade failure, when detecting predetermined wind speed or accelerating to move, system can have can controlled " safety " pattern.For example, when the wind speed that detects greater than 40MPH or detect earthquake greater than 5.0 the time, small-sized rectification systems can enter safe mode, wherein distillation cascade and other frangible system unit are locked in safe position.System can also receive from external source (such as the service of the Internet weather information) weather warning in its geographic position, thereby and by the early warning of Dispatch Safety mode time reply storm.Controller can also powered-down, and/or surge protection is provided, to prevent because surge or outage and electric component is damaged.

In one embodiment, distillation cascade can be filled with filling material or horizontal perforated board, and it is used to the karusen of evaporation is separated with alcohol.Ideally, karusen and ethanol enter the bottom of distillation cascade, and the steam that merges is up mobile along pipe.Water and other heavier material are blocked by filler or plate.In contrast be that ethanol can tend to remain the steam form, and continues to move up along distillation cascade.This helps water is separated with the ethanol steam with other pollutant.Plate can be in distillation cascade horizontal alignment, and a plurality of plates can be set along the length of distillation cascade.Problem may occur when small-sized rectification systems is of short duration when stopping to produce.Water can condensation or evaporation, and karusen may be retained on filler or the perforated board, thereby causes hole or filler to stop up when reusing in system.When being reused, system may clean whole condenser pipe.

In order to reduce this problem, perforated board 403 can be installed in the distillation cascade 131 at a certain angle.Fig. 5 illustrates the vertical view of board component 401, and is illustrated in some holes 405 that form in the angled plate 403.Fig. 6 illustrates the side view of assembly 401, and the possible angle of plate 403 is shown.When water and karusen steam condensing were on plate 403, gravity tended to the lower limb guiding of these liquid towards plate 403.Lower limb because karusen liquid tends to raw material hole 405 towards plate 403 moves, and therefore is not easy to occur owing to dry pollutant to the destruction of distillation tube sheet 403.In the time of in being installed in distillation cascade, ring 407 can closely be engaged in the internal diameter of distillation cascade.Assembly can also have the upper ring and a lower ring 407 that each parts is remained the single type unit, and described single type unit is easily installed or easily taken out to repair or to safeguard.Assembly 401 can be made by any suitable material (such as stainless steel and plastics).Assembly 401 can also apply or coat with lacquer the protection top layer that prevents rust and oxydation.Although shown plate 403 is planar structure, in other embodiments, it also can be nonplanar.For example, plate can have down " V " shape, so that the liquid of condensation is past dirty along the relative downside of plate.

With reference to Fig. 7, show the side view of the embodiment of distillation cascade 131 and relevant hardware component.In one embodiment, distillation cascade 131 is the multi-piece type unit, and it can be disassembled and be a plurality of parts.In this example, exist three to be used for the web member 421 that the different segmentations of distillation cascade 131 are fixed to one another.Yet, also contain and can use any amount of distillation cascade segmentation and web member 421.Web member 421 is separable, is opened to allow distillation cascade 131.This need to change or repair at plate or filler, and perhaps needing to arrive inner surface is useful especially when cleaning.This can with the required time by shortening to a few minutes in several hours.The multi-piece type structure also allows distillation cascade 131 more easily to transport, to carry out field maintemance and reparation, because if can change if required the part of infringement, rather than whole pipe 131.In order further to simplify the taking-up from system, distillation cascade can be fixed on the fast connector 425 separately on the external diameter of distillation cascade 131.Connector 425 can be used for the temperature and pressure sensor, and liquid inlet and outlet.

The details of the embodiment of web member 421 is shown among Fig. 8-10.Fig. 8 illustrates the web member 421 of mated condition.Web member 421 comprises on the ring 423 that is installed in the external diameter that is connected to distillation cascade 131 and a plurality of mortise pins 427 and the hook 429 of support structure is provided.Mortise pin 427 and hook 429 are distributed in the periphery of ring 423.By each segmentation of rotary distillation pipe 131, hook 429 fixes with mortise pin 427, and each segmentation of distillation cascade is fixed together.In one embodiment, locking mechanism 426 anti-stop ring 423 rotations are so that each segmentation of distillation cascade 131 can not separate.

With reference to Fig. 9, when needs are taken distillation cascade 131 apart, with each segmentation rotation, so that mortise pin 427 separates with hook 429.As shown in figure 10, when mortise pin 427 separated with hook 429, each segmentation of distillation cascade 131 can be separated from one another.The bindiny mechanism that in other embodiments, can adopt various other types is fixed together each segmentation of distillation cascade.

When small-sized rectification systems normal running, hot ethanol and water vapor leave distillation cascade 131, and move through film system 135, and this film system 135 is with hydrone and pure molecular separation.Film system 135 comprises the porous diffusion barrier that can be made by pottery, glass or very coarse material.With reference to Figure 11, film 606 has a plurality of apertures 607, and this aperture 607 allows hydrones 609 to pass through, but excessive and it is passed through for ethanol molecule 611.Higher vapour pressure is so that less hydrone 609 flows through hole 607.By making steam pass through film 606, hydrone 609 is separated, and substantially pure ethanol molecule 609 leaves by the film system.Therefore, hole 607 is greater than the diameter of water vapor, and less than the diameter of ethanol steam.In one embodiment, the diameter in hole 607 can be approximately 2 to 40 Ethylmercurichlorendimides.

Using the potential problems of perforated membrane system is that heat damage may easily occur membrane material.Particularly, if the temperature of ethanol steam is higher than in fact the temperature of film, then " heat damage " may occur in film.For example, then film may directly be exposed in the ethanol steam of heat under the environment temperature, thereby causes destroying.In order to prevent the heat damage of film, adopt miniature control heating system to the film preheating, be suitable for processing heat steam to guarantee film temperature.In one embodiment, the temperature of film is detected by the thermopair that links to each other with the film system.When the control system guiding liquids flowed out fermentation tank arrival well heater and distillation cascade, this system detected the temperature of film before heat steam is directed to distillation cascade.With reference to Fig. 1, if film is colder, then system controller 151 can drive heating element, and the monitoring film temperature.When film temperature raise, control system can have the adjustment setting, thereby prevented that well heater is to the film superheated.When film temperature was preheated to safe temperature, system controller 151 can allow heat steam to flow on the film by distillation cascade 131.In case heat steam flows through film, then steam is understood heating film, and can stop the power supply to heating element.In order to help ethanol and moisture from process, can water vapor be guided through perforated membrane by means of vacuum 143.

In one embodiment, film system 135 can have film 135 for subsequent use.If a film system 135 is damaged, then controller can detect inefficacy, and controller 151 can operation valve 136 will be diverted in the film for subsequent use system 135 from the water of distillation cascade 131 and ethanol steam.Controller 151 can send by the signal that transceiver 197 is damaged indicating film 135 operator or maintenance group to.Then can when water and ethanol separate by film for subsequent use system 135, the film system 135 that is damaged be changed.

Meeting condensation after water is by film system 135 and vacuum 143, and flow in the water store tank 181, then it is used for fermentation tank 131 again.The ethanol that separates leaves film system 135, then flows through thermoelectric (al) cooler 166, and this refrigeratory 166 makes ethanol be condensed into liquid.Then liquid ethanol flows into its hold-up vessel that stores 145, and it is mixed with gasoline.The ultrasound wave that links to each other in hold-up vessel 145 or other liquid sensor can detect the ethanol level in the hold-up vessel 145, and this alcohol production information is offered system controller 151.In one embodiment, system controller 151 can detect the time that ethanol hold-up vessel 145 is full of, and stops still-process, can be for the space that utilizes until have in the hold-up vessel 145.

In one embodiment, small-sized rectification systems of the present invention can mix with any ratio that is set by the user with gasoline in being stored in gasoline hold-up vessel 155 by the ethanol that system controller 151 will be stored in the ethanol hold-up vessel 145.Control system comprises the user interface that allows the required fuel mixture ratio of user selection.System can comprise and prevents that the fuel mixture setting from surpassing the closing component structure of the maximum or minimum ethanol percentage that vehicle allows.In case selected fuel mixture, the user can adopt small-sized refining function, such as the petrol pump of routine.The user takes out ozzle 163 from the support of small-sized rectification systems, and is placed in the pot type tucker of vehicle.The control lever that will link to each other with ozzle 163 drives, and with driving pump 149, this pump 149 makes fuel be flow in the pot type tucker of vehicle by hose reel 157, flexible pipe 161 and ozzle 163 by tank 145 and 155.System is with different flowing velocity operation ethanol and petrol pump 149, to produce the fuel ratio of regulation.Ozzle 163 detects the time that the vehicle tank is filled, and automatically stops fuel flowing by ozzle 163.When the vehicle tank was full of, the user was put back into ozzle 163 on the support, and the lid of refuelling tucker, to stop filling process.When ethanol tank 145 at least part of being discharged, system can begin to prepare more ethanol.

The blending ratio of ethanol and gasoline or other fuel can depend on by the type of the vehicle of refuelling.Just can in internal combustion engine, use straight alcohol when only for the use straight alcohol engine being designed or transforming.Yet ethanol can mix with various ratios with gasoline, to be used for without transforming vehicle motor.In the U.S., be designed to conventional car by gasoline operation and can only use and contain the at the most fuel blend of 15% ethanol.In contrast be that U.S.'s flexible fuel automobile can use to contain and be less than 20% ethanol or the fuel blend of 85% ethanol at the most.The alcohol fuel potpourri is indicated letter " E " expression of ethanol percentage usually by the back.For example, typical alcohol fuel title comprises: E5, E7, E10, E15, E20, E85, E95 and E100 etc., wherein E5 is 5% ethanol and 95% gasoline.

After finishing the processing that small-sized rectification systems carries out by each, small-sized rectification systems can also be cleaned.In one embodiment, small-sized rectification systems comprises such cleaning mechanism, and it can spray fermentation tank with the suds of pressurization, and this can remove particulate matter from tank and other parts.Then, system can the elution circuit parts, to remove soap and other vestiges.In one embodiment, open bleed valve, from system, discharge by discharging hose with the waste liquid that allows fermentation tank and Distallation systm.System can comprise automatic cleaning systems, and its utilization is connected to the water source and discharges valve between the nozzle of water under high pressure, and is driven by system controller.Can directly spray for the fermentation cell wall, to remove the material of deposition.When removing volatile material from the inside surface of small-sized rectification systems, open bleed valve, and waste material is down poured in the common discharge system.

Because small-sized rectification systems be complicated mechanism, so sensor and controller be used to automatically operate, and optimization ethanol processability.Small-sized rectification systems comprises the various sensors of the operating conditions of monitoring processing system, and described disposal system comprises: mixing agitator, Distallation systm, film separation system, hold-up vessel and mixing and the pumping system of fermentation tank, dynamometer weight detection system, temperature control system, fermentation tank.All these systems include the sensor that links to each other with controller.With reference to Figure 12, the simplified block diagram of system controller 151 is shown.Controller 151 comprises: CPU (central processing unit) (CPU) 601, visual display 603 (it also can be input media), user's input mechanism 609 (such as button, keyboard etc.).In order to make CPU601 and such as motor, the communication of sensor analogue means, to need analog to digital converter 611 and digital to analogy converter 613.Analog to digital converter 611 is used to analog data signal is converted into the digital signal that can be resolved by CPU601, and digital to analogy converter 613 is used to the digital controlled signal from CPU601 is converted into analogue means.CPU601 can link to each other with electronic memory 605.In one embodiment, controller 151 links to each other with the various sensor 305-313 of the operation that detects small-sized rectification systems and system unit, and links to each other with the various sensor 314-317 of the operation of controlling small-sized rectification systems.

In one embodiment, controller 151 can be resolved sensor 205 information that detect, and this information can be sent the indication of audio or video state.Controller 151 can also link to each other with the lamp 199 of the indication of the state that small-sized rectification systems is provided.The color of light can the indication mechanism state.Green glow can represent that all are normal, and gold-tinted can the expression system it is noted that and ruddiness can represent that system is closed.As shown in Figure 1, lamp 199 can be installed in the upper surface of small-sized rectification systems 101, to obtain optimum visuality.If small-sized rectification systems 101 each other space arranges, then status indicator lamp 199 can be installed in such position, and condition indicative signal just can easily be seen so that the user is separated by a distance in this position.In other embodiments, audio frequency siren can should be noted that or system sounds during the pent emergency circumstance in system.

Figure 13 is the figure that the communication contact between small-sized rectification systems 101 and other system unit is shown.Controller 151 can also link to each other with transceiver 197, and this transceiver 197 can and be received information by wired or wireless communication transmission.For example, small-sized rectification systems can with computer network communication, with the operation that allows the small-sized rectification systems of computer monitoring and the disposition of material.Controller 151 can send small-sized rectification systems operation information (such as sensor and the generation information that detects) to various other computing machines or server 223 by computer network by transceiver 197.Controller 151 can also receive steering order from other computing machine or server 223, to carry out the operation of small-sized rectification systems according to the operating conditions that is detected.

The operation information that transceiver 197 permission system controllers 151 transmission such as sensor output datas etc. detect, and from external source reception operational order.Transceiver can be wired unit or the radio-cell with personal computer or network (it links to each other with other computing machine 223) communication.The hardware communication cable can also extend between operator's computing machine 223 and one or more small-sized rectification systems 101.Communication between small-sized rectification systems 101 and computing machine 223 or the network can by various pattern, comprise: radio frequency, such as WiFi, wireless station or satellite, perhaps optical mode is such as IR.For example, the type of transmission can be based on the position of small-sized rectification systems.Operator's computing machine near private shelter or commercial building can have the WiFi communication system.The small-sized rectification systems that surpasses the radio-frequency communication scope apart from operator's computing machine 223 may need wireless station or Satellite Communication System.

The small-sized rectification systems information that is detected by sensor can be sent to microprocessor 601 and be stored in the storer, and/or then it is sent to transceiver, and is transported to computer network such as the Internet.The type that transmits can be based on the position of small-sized rectification systems.Computing machine 223 near private shelter or commercial building can have the WiFi communication system.In contrast be that the computing machine 223 that is positioned at farther zone may need wireless station or Satellite Communication System, perhaps may need a plurality of computing machines 223 and multiple communication approach, such as wireless or cable network.

In the situation that adopt communication system, small-sized rectification systems can and user's personal computer, system maintenance service provider, group leader, helpdesk, material supplier, administrative authority or other small-sized rectification systems between transmit and reception information.In some cases, information can be sent to by small-sized rectification systems user's personal computer.The user can resolving information, and by personal computer information is sent to service provider or other computing machine.By introducing communication network, can utilize wired lan, wireless network (such as WiFi), wireless station or satellite to connect telecommunication, and can the small-sized rectification systems of remote monitoring.The information that transmits by communication system can be used for various purposes, comprising: ethanol preparation, material that system's operation monitoring, diagnosis, operation optimization, government department are responsible for store monitoring and material order etc.The data that transmit can depend on the recipient of information.For example, supervision department only may need to know the ethanol output quantity of small-sized rectification systems.In contrast be that operating conditions and any processing mistake need to be known by user or maintenance department.Therefore, compare with government department, the sensor information that sends user or maintenance department to is more.

The communication system that is used for small-sized rectification systems can also be used for other purpose.For example, in one embodiment, communication system can with the U.S. Patent application No.12/110 at common pending trial, the carbon emission project of discussing in 242 (" Method For Using Carbon Credits With Micro Refineries (methods that small-sized refining is used with carbon credit) ") is used together, and this paper is incorporated in described patented claim by reference into.The carbon credit project can be provided convertible note, and its value that has is based on the CO that replaces the gasoline of equal volume or volume of equal value to cause by small-sized rectification systems generation ethanol owing to utilization ₂The reduction of discharging.Carbon credit can have based on CO ₂The value of the reduction of discharging, condition are to utilize the gasoline that is replaced equal volume or volume of equal value by the ethanol of small-sized rectification systems preparation.Because ethanol is than the CO of gasoline ₂Discharging is directly can be quantitative, therefore can accurately determine CO by the sensor of measuring the volume that flows into the ethanol in the hold-up vessel 145 ₂The reduction of discharging.System can automatically transmit the cubing value by the ethanol of small-sized rectification systems preparation, so that everyone of small-sized rectification systems can record corresponding carbon credit.

Communication system can also be used for the transaction carbon credit.The carbon credit buyer can be individual or corporate entity, and it may wish to improve the world by the overlay area of reducing carbon.The buyer also may need to reduce carbon emission, the statutory regulation of the restriction carbon emission of being promulgated to meet.Can in the electronics mode carbon credit be sold to the buyer by computer network or based on the marketing system of the Internet.Small-sized rectification systems can be indicated the amount of available carbon credit, and sells one or whole carbon credits with the price of regulation.Perhaps, small-sized rectification systems can utilize the auction network address, so that some or all carbon credits are auctioned off to highest tender person.In some cases, small-sized rectification systems may only have a small amount of carbon credit, and a plurality of small-sized rectification systems can be merged, and their accumulation carbon credit is sold together.

In preferred embodiments, small-sized rectification systems transceiver can pass through network (such as the Internet) and subscriber computer and/or other server computer communication, and this can help monitoring and the maintenance of small-sized rectification systems.Small-sized rectification systems can with user's personal computer sharing operation information, and according to the data from small-sized rectification systems, the user can order raw material, safeguard, and be apprised of any system failure.Recipient according to the different small rectification systems information of generation data type may be different.User's computing machine can send to operation information various other entities, such as system maintenance service groups, small-sized refining group supvr, small-sized rectification systems material supplier and government administration section.In some cases, small-sized rectification systems can be shared information.For example, the small-sized rectification systems that is positioned at same area can compare the ethanol preparation amount, to help to confirm this regional optimal operating condition.The small-sized rectification systems of same area can also be shared feed information, so that can order together a large amount of raw materials, and between the small-sized rectification systems in this zone, can share transportation cost.

In order to carry out suitable operation, may need raw material is incorporated in the small-sized rectification systems consistently or periodically.By using the power sensor in raw material storage zone, can monitor the weight that supplies raw material.System is constructed to along with consumption of raw materials automatically fills raw material with process tank.System can also detect the weight/quantity of raw material in the storage area and other batch of material composition or adjuvant.When the raw material in the storage area or batch of material composition feed dropped, system can notify user, system maintenance ISP or feed retail trader batch of material to replenish.

Under perfect treatment conditions, batch of material may not need again balance of constant chemical composition.Yet if there are a plurality of variablees under treatment conditions, perhaps for the treatment of batch of material or the discarded alcoholic beverage that contains, system may need to test continuously and regulate the batch of material content of fermentation tank simultaneously for small-sized rectification systems.Have high sugared content contain alcoholic beverage can for batch of material provide sugar.Required batch of material also may be along with being changed by the amount of the discarded ethanol that contains the alcoholic beverage preparation.If by containing the more alcohol of alcoholic beverage preparation, then need less raw material to prepare volume required ethanol.

In another embodiment, system can comprise the sensor of the amount that detects the treated alcohol in the hold-up vessel.If hold-up vessel almost is full of, then system can reduce ethanol preparation, and if hold-up vessel is full of, then system can stop the ethanol preparation.On the contrary, if system detects the ethanol hold-up vessel almost empty the time, then system can increase preparation.Can control preparation by slowing down or stopping the distillation processing.By ethanol demand and the batch of material content of monitor user ', system can predict the demand of material, and has the material of required Gong processing.Small-sized rectification systems needn't stop to produce, because required material always exists when needed on the spot.

Can send the raw material notice to user by various means of communications, described means of communication comprises the electronic signal that is sent to subscriber computer by small-sized rectification systems network, and this signal form with indicant on user's chart interface signals shows.Perhaps, the raw material notice can be sent to the form of email notification, text or voice signal user's computing machine or phone.In other embodiments, the user can authorize or tectonic system automatically contacts the raw material supplier, and crosses in the raw material supply amount and to require extra raw material when low.Just can transmit signal when in storage process, leaving the raw material of scheduled volume, so that the user replenished feed if having time before system exhausts material.

In other embodiments, determine regularly and the conveying of supplying raw materials.System can detect Production requirement, and the perhaps speed of consumption of raw materials, and adjusting feed is higher or lower than the ethanol preparation of desired amount with compensation.For example, preparation demand can be to be stored in ethanol volume in the tank as foundation.System can automatically increase raw feed materials when storage capacity is low, and when reservoir volume almost is full of, reduces raw feed materials.Can also regulate based on the wear rate of predicting the amount of raw feed materials.

In one embodiment, system can also be for detection of the operate miss in the small-sized rectification systems.On-the-spot problem also may be because fault and extreme meteorological condition cause device shut-down and expensive on-site maintenance service.For the pick-up unit problem, small-sized rectification systems can comprise a plurality of sensors of detection system fault.With reference to Figure 13, by the small-sized rectification systems of remote monitoring and environmental baseline, notice subscriber computer 223 when system can have problems in system.Then the operator can check system, and can repair this problem.If the user can not repair this problem, the user can make a phone call to service centre, and the maintenance personal can be delivered to small-sized rectification systems 101.In some cases, small-sized rectification systems 101 can carry out autodiagnosis, and determines this problem.This diagnostic message can be transferred into subscriber computer 223, maintenance provider's server computer 223 and/or service centre 223.

In some fitting operations, the user may not wish to manage the operation of small-sized rectification systems 101, then allows on the contrary the maintenance supplier safeguard small-sized rectification systems.All information can be transferred into system maintenance server 223, perhaps small-sized refining group supvr computing machine.Subscriber computer 223 can receive Back ground Information, upgrades such as the state of the small-sized rectification systems 101 of diagrammatic form (it is easily resolved by the user) with from ISP 223 service.Therefore, small-sized rectification systems 101 can be constructed to send multi-form different information to different computing machine 223.

In one embodiment, the small-sized rectification systems owner may enter right for service companies provides, auxiliary to carry out remote system, and can be transferred into 101 service companies server 223 of the small-sized rectification systems of monitoring from the sensing data of small-sized rectification systems 101.Because service companies may be not interested in the outward appearance that shows, therefore the data output from small-sized rectification systems 101 can be " service output mode " (source data that it can be mainly minimum level or not have providing data formatting).This source data has reduced the amount of data transmission, and it can make a plurality of small-sized rectification systems 101 by the service companies remote monitoring.If detect any existing problem of small-sized rectification systems 101, service companies server 223 can provide digital command for small-sized rectification systems 101, if perhaps this problem needs manual operations, the Service Technicians can enter small-sized rectification systems 101, to serve or to safeguard.

In one embodiment, can be small-sized rectification systems 101 programmings, so that infrastructure service is required to send to subscriber computer 223, if and this problem needs housebroken technician, then small-sized rectification systems 101 can notification service central computer 223, so that can require immediately the technician.Small-sized rectification systems 101 can also be confirmed the parts that may lose efficacy or go wrong, and requires these parts from service centre's computing machine 223.

In one embodiment, can automatically carry out some system maintenances.For example, with reference to Fig. 1, in one embodiment, small-sized rectification systems can have for ethanol and moisture from perforated membrane for subsequent use 135.If perforated membrane is damaged, small-sized rectification systems 101 can detect this problem, then automatically the valve 161 of the outlet of distillation cascade is transformed into film 135 for subsequent use, thereby can continues the ethanol preparation.Then, small-sized rectification systems 101 can require service provider's reparation to be damaged or problematic perforated membrane 135.Various other system units can have the stand-by unit that can use under failure conditions.

When the quantity of the small-sized rectification systems that is operated by company and individual increases, may need to monitor government or the supervision department of ethanol preparation.According to the commercial fuel regulation, allow government regulation mechanism to obtain refining and prepare information, and law may require commercial fuel to prepare company to government organs' report fuel sales situation, to obtain tax revenue.The small-sized rectification systems that also may require the individual to have and operate carries out similar preparation of fuel report.Yet because the development of private small-sized rectification systems may expand to global various remote location, so government organs are difficult to use the existing method for the large-scale rectification systems design of monitoring to monitor individual preparation of fuel situation.

Many small-sized rectification systems may be had and operated by the individual, and these people may not know how to report the ethanol by their system's preparation.In order automatically required information to be sent to regulator, small-sized rectification systems can be constructed to automatically periodically send preparation information to the mechanism billing and accounting system.In other embodiments, small-sized rectification systems can store preparation information, and regulator can obtain preparation information.By small-sized rectification systems controller is linked to each other with computer network, preparation information can easily be transmitted to any supervising entity that needs this information.Transmit small-sized rectification systems data by electronics, the user needn't obtain and ethanol is prepared information to send the supervision structure to by hand.By allowing and small-sized rectification systems telecommunications, the handling cost that the ethanol of monitoring small-sized rectification systems prepares information also reaches minimized.

In one embodiment, can prepare information by the monitoring of the fuel flow sensor in the small-sized rectification systems 101 ethanol.Small-sized rectification systems 101 can link to each other with the government organs' computing machine that links to each other 223 by interface, long-range broadband, and described computing machine 223 can be monitored individual preparation of fuel and/or consumption.Data can transmit with confirmation, and are relevant with suitable small-sized rectification systems thereby government can prepare ethanol information.If the ethanol preparation from small-sized rectification systems 101 is paid taxes, then this tax revenue can become the income of place, state and federal government mechanism.

In one embodiment, small-sized rectification systems 101 can also comprise the Long-distance Control feature.In this embodiment, system comprises the detent of the small-sized rectification systems 101 of a plurality of controls.User and regulator can carry out this Long-distance Control.If regulator determines to have violated statutory regulation, then can be by the government organs of authorizing with small-sized rectification systems 101 long-range closing in violation of rules and regulations.For example, the supervision structure can the Long-distance Control braking valve, and this valve control ethanol is from the outflow of small-sized rectification systems 101.By closing this valve, the ethanol of system in can process tank, but can not from small-sized rectification systems 101, take out ethanol in the hold-up vessel.In other embodiments, government can comprise a series of activities to the control of small-sized rectification systems, comprises beginning and will conveying to the small-sized rectification systems owner and/or owner's computing machine 223 about observing the information that requires.Do not proofread and correct if stipulate in the specified period observing situation, then regulator can begin to control the operation of small-sized rectification systems 101, and if the operator continue the requirement that violates the rules, it may stop the operation of small-sized rectification systems 101 at last.

As discussed above, small-sized rectification systems can comprise the sensor of the various operating characteristicses of the small-sized rectification systems of a plurality of detections.Adjust by the monitoring sensor data and according to sensing data, small-sized rectification systems can suitably keep, and with optimum efficiency work.Affect a temperature that principal element is batch of material of sweat.In one embodiment, the temperature of batch of material is by the transceiver monitoring that links to each other with controller.With reference to Fig. 1, controller control imposes on the electric energy of thermoelectric mechanism 113, the refined and temperature of using thermoelectric mechanism 113 to regulate batch of materials, thereby so that batch temperature remain in the optimum temperature range.System can keep the batch of material of design temperature to be in the several years scope of design temperature, and this scope can be approximately 25 ℃ to 30 ℃.Temperature may be most critical during the fermentation.After fermentation ends, system can allow the ethanol temperature to change with atmospheric conditions.This permission system saves energy when not needing batch of material heating or cooling.

In one embodiment, the batch weight that system can also detect by the comparison based on fermentation time and the weight of expection, thereby the monitoring sweat.Ideally, weight should be predictable over time, and is in during the fermentation in the scope of expection.The weight saving speed that departs from expection may represent to exist potential fermentation process problem.For example, the weight saving speed that is higher than expection at specific point in the sweat may be lost owing to water (causing by leaking or evaporating) and be caused from fermentation tank.If weight saving speed is lower than desired value, this may represent the sweat existing problems.If it is inappropriate that batch weight alleviates speed, system can carry out extra test, to determine whether the batch of material existing problems.In one embodiment, can test the batch of material sample, be in suitable concentration to determine whether yeast and other composition, and whether sugar be processed.

In one embodiment, small-sized rectification systems can detect the chemical composition in the batch mixtures, and if detect the chemistry unbalance, then system controller can also provide feedback, and proofreaies and correct.When the user mixes that contain counter-balanced constituents mixt not discarded contains alcoholic beverage or fresh feed so that during the maximization ethanol production, above-mentioned chemical detection may be useful.For example, if user's processing contains a large amount of yeast, still not sugary discarded beer is exactly like this.Lack sugar and may prevent that pure fermentation rate from raising.Lacking sugar also may prevent for the marine alga of Ethanol Treatment and the growth of microorganism fibrous material.It is unbalance that system can monitor this chemistry, and carry out required correction.In another example, if detecting, system controller adds too much sugar, then system can process excessive sugared required yeast and raw material by increasing, thereby remedies this mistake.Small-sized rectification systems can comprise the sensor of the ratio that detects water, alcohol, sugar, yeast and other chemicals, therefore can add suitable composition, so that maximization ethanol preparation amount.

For the suitable concn of detection of chemicals, controller can compare listed expection composition measurement value in the look-up table that stores in the amount of the chemicals that detects or ratio and the electronic memory.As described, fermentation tank can link to each other with the chemical property sensor with weight sensor.The chemical property sensor can be monitored the concentration of one or more chemicals in the batch of material.By knowing composition in the batch of material and the amount of material, system can determine whether batch of material is the optimum potpourri of realizing the preparation of maximization ethanol.

Look-up table can be the database of chemical composition and relative concentration thereof.For example, batch of material can begin with following raw material, and this raw material comprises: the yeast (such as clostridium) of the water of the sugar of 80 to 90 % by weight (such as glucose), 10 to 20 % by weight and 0.5 % by weight.Along with sweat carries out, sugared content, and ethanol content increases.The relative weight of material can change during the fermentation.An example of look-up table is shown in following table 1.System can utilize the look-up table with various signal component value, and described signal component value may depend on environmental baseline and/or pending certain material.Except the listed material of table 1, look-up table also comprises various other batch of materials processing compositions, such as O ₂And CO ₂

Table 1

40％

53％

±3％

14.5％

±5％

0.5％

±0.2％

32％

±8％

60％

37％

±3％

14.5％

±5％

0.5％

±0.2％

48％

±12％

80％

21％

±3％

14.5％

±5％

0.5％

±0.2％

60％

±16％

100％

≤5％

±3％

14.5％

±5％

0.5％

±0.2％

76％

±20％

Look-up table can comprise the during the fermentation optimal data of the batch of material feature measurement value of certain time point detection.If there is the chemical composition of proper ratio in the batch of material, then system can not change batch mixtures, and can allow it to continue fermentation.Yet, if batch of material chemically unbalance, can join one or more compositions in the batch of material, unbalance to correct this chemistry.Along with sugar is converted into ethanol, the sugar in the batch of material reduces than regular meeting, until it has been converted into ethanol fully.

As mentioned above, the preparation of ethanol also produces CO ₂Therefore, along with CO ₂Gas is discharged by batch of material, and is emitted in the atmosphere, and the weight of batch of material also can reduce.Batch of material preferably ferments with predetermined speed and can detect fermentation rate with sensor.If fermentation rate reduces before batch of material is processed fully, this may represent that the batch of material existence prevents the problem of fermenting.System can be by detecting all operations condition and transmitting alarm to system operator and tackle.When the batch of material fermentation process finished, fermentation rate also can reduce.By reduction, the CO that monitors sugared content ₂The reduction of discharging and batch weight, system can confirm the state that batch of material is processed.For example, system can determine that batch of material finished dealing with 10%, 40%, 80% or any number percent.In one embodiment, system can add sugar and water continuously in batch of material, keeping stable batch of material amount, and makes the fermentation rate maximization.

According to the Percent Complete of fermentation process, look-up table can comprise optimum chemical composition and the substance characteristics of this batch of material.Owing to the chemical composition of batch of material along with fermentation changes, so the relative quantity of batch of material chemicals also along with and change.Look-up table can be stored in the storer in the small-sized rectification systems, perhaps by in communication network and the operator's computing machine that small-sized rectification systems links to each other.Small-sized rectification systems can also store the various in advance composition of raw materials of programming, and corresponding look-up table, optimizes and the controlled fermentation process according to environmental baseline (it is presented as medial temperature, humidity etc.) helping.

In case determine suitable prescription and fermentation number percent, just in look-up table, seek corresponding optimum chemical composition and physical property.System can compare the chemical composition that detects and optimum chemical composition.Do not have suitable chemicals ratio if detect present state of the art, system can add the material of any shortage, to correct chemical ratios.On the contrary, if detect the concentration excess of chemicals, then can add one or more high other batch of material compositions, so that the potpourri rebalancing.

In one embodiment, small-sized rectification systems can compare chemical concentrations and the optimal value that detects, but allows to have acceptable deviation range with tabular value.For example, acceptable chemical composition amount can be for being in the concentration range of the left and right sides.When the system validation chemical composition is outside tolerance interval, then determines to join the required chemical composition in the batch of material, and calculate the amount of various material requesteds.

The estimation amount of material to be added can be determined by algorithm.For example, the quantity of material in the batch of material to be added (by weight) can (W) be determined by amount equation (Q)=(Δ C), and wherein Δ C is the poor of the chemical concentrations that detects and theoretical chemistry concentration, and W is the weight of batch of material.In an example, look-up table has stipulated that chemical composition " A " should be 5 % by weight of batch of material, and the amount of the composition A that measures only is 4% of batch of material, and batch weight is 100 pounds.The amount Q that should join the composition A in the batch of material multiply by batch of material (W) by by weight (Δ C) and determines, therefore the composition A of Q=(5%-4%) (100 pounds)=1 pound should be joined in the batch of material.

This batch of material control information may be displayed on the display screen of system, perhaps is transferred on operator's computing machine and/or the service computer.The user can join required composition in the batch of material by hand, and perhaps system can automatically add required composition.As discussed above, in one embodiment, the container that system can composition, and operation valve, this operation valve allow the composition of measured quantity automatically to be blended in the batch of material.If composition is not enough, system can automatically add this composition in batch of material.Similarly, if the excessive concentration of composition, then system's composition that can add other is to proofread and correct and to optimize batch mixtures.System can continue to monitor the batch of material chemicals in whole sweat, and determines whether and need to adjust batch of material.

In one embodiment, system can be controlled by the user, and perhaps system can be programmed, and with automatic operation material blends is proofreaied and correct.Because small-sized rectification systems links to each other with computer network, so these prescriptions can by the renewal of far distance instrument plate communication system, perhaps be supplied by online support assisted Extraction.Suitable or optimum prescription can be along with the different of environmental baseline and used material composition and be changed.As discussed above, can use test mechanism detect the deviation of water, ethanol, sugar, yeast and other chemicals in the batch of material.System can tackle by automatically proofreading and correct chemical quantity or ratio (by add one or more compositions in batch of material).Perhaps, system can also indicate the data-signal of the batch of material composition that need to adjust to tackle by transmitting.Then, the user can control small-sized rectification systems, so that the batch of material composition is adjusted.

In order to detect the character of batch of material, mechanism for testing 171 shown in Figure 1 can comprise the various sensors for the specific nature (such as the sugared content of batch of material) of measuring batch of material.With reference to Fig. 6, the sugar that can use electrochemical sensor 505 to detect in the batch of material.Sensor 505 links to each other with liquid container, the reference electrode 509 of the batch of material that holds specified quantitative and the enzyme electrode 507 that contains glucose oxidase.Enzyme is reoxidized by excessive ferrocyanic acid radical ion on enzyme electrode 507.The total electrical charge that adopts reometer 509 to measure by electrode 507, and the concentration of glucose is proportional in total electrical charge and the batch of material.Measure the amount of electric charge in can be at a fixed time, the total electrical charge when perhaps can assaying reaction finishing.Reometer 509 links to each other with controller 513, and this controller 513 calculates the concentration of the glucose in the batch of material, and glucose and the aimed concn of measuring compared.If glucose is not in desired extent, then controller 513 can be adjusted batch of material or operating conditions.

In one embodiment, detection system can comprise the optical system that the batch of material sample is exposed to light.In one embodiment, with reference to Figure 14, Systems for optical inspection 307 can comprise light source (such as xenon lamp 701), wave filter 703,705 and CCD photometer 707.Can monitor simultaneously the unit concentration of yeast culture fluorescence and batch of material 711.The yeast of the light of transmission in CCD photometer 707 fronts irradiation batch of material 711.The yeast of fermentation is compared towards the fluorescence of long wavelength's migration by sending with optical source wavelength, thereby light is reacted.The fluorescence that sends is detected by CCD photometer 707.Short bandpass filter 703 can allow between 300 to 400nm (it can be the fluorescence excitation signal) and between 700 to 850nm the light of the SPECTRAL REGION of (it can be light scattering signal) pass

through.Wave filter

703 and 705 can also be blocked xenon lamp in the light output in 400 to 700nm zone, thereby avoids the interference to emitting fluorescence.By detecting fluorescence and fluorescence intensity, CCD photometer 707 can detect the fermentation process situation of yeast.

The batch of material mechanism for testing can also comprise the chemical detection system that can measure the chemical composition in the batch of material.In one embodiment, adopt the material (it can be solid, liquid or gas) that exists in the absorption spectrum test sample, and impel subsequently the electronics in the material to be converted into another energy level by an energy level.The absorbing wavelength of incident photon is determined by the difference of the energy level of the different material that exists in the batch of material sample.Can detect chemical composition with the light of various wavelength.In absorption spectrum, the photon of absorption can't be launched again by batch of material, and the energy that absorbs is transferred on the compound that absorbs photon.

At given wavelength place, shown that the volumetric molar concentration of the absorptivity measured and light absorption batch of material composition is proportional.For specific compound, the radiant quantity that absorbs and the relation of wavelength are called as " absorption spectrum ".At the wavelength place corresponding to the resonance level of sample, some incident photons are absorbed, thereby the intensity in transmission that causes measuring reduces, and fall accordingly in spectrum.Can adopt photometer, by shape, the optical path length of knowing spectrum and the radiation survey absorption spectrum that absorbs.By analyzing absorption spectrum, can replace the interior chemical composition of batch of material and the concentration of compound.

With reference to Figure 15, the critical piece of gas sensor 308 is infrared light supply 521, sample chamber or light pipe 523, wavelength filter 525 and photodetector 527 (such as the CCD photometer).Gas enters sample chamber 523, and measures the concentration of target component with electrochemical means in the absorption of the certain wave strong point of infrared spectrum by gas.Light 521 is conducted through sample chamber 523 and enters detecting device 527.Optical filter 525 can be installed in the top of detecting device 527, all light that described wave filter 521 is got rid of except the absorbed wavelength of selected gas molecule.The target component concentration that detects and the look-up table value of target component can be compared, to determine the state of batch of material composition.According to the target component that detects, system can process batch of material as required and adjust.Except target component detected, optical system can also monitor whether there is other chemical composition that absorbs different wave length in the batch of material.System can monitor the detection case of these other wavelength, perhaps uses the independent optical sensor of the relative concentration that is constructed to detect other composition in the batch of material.In one embodiment, can be by the CO that produces ₂Detect the fermentation of batch of material.Owing to producing during the fermentation CO ₂, so CO ₂Amount indication fermentation rate, and stopping to discharge CO ₂The time, fermentation also stops.

In another embodiment, can detect by detecting light the existence of the chemical composition in the batch of material by the sensor of the refractive index of batch of material liquid.With reference to Figure 16, show refractive index detection system 309, it comprises light source 531, liquid chamber 532/ and photosensor array 535.One sheet glass can with light source 531 and liquid 501 isolation, allow light to pass through liquid chamber 532 simultaneously.Light beam is with the first fixing angle θ ₁The junction of contact glass and liquid, and light beam is refracted at intersection, thus cause crooked the second angle θ of light beam ₂Sensor array 535 is disposed in a relative side of liquid chamber 523 in the mode of aligned structure, to detect refraction angle θ ₂Anaclasis is described by Snell law, and this law points out that incident angle passes through sin θ ₁/ sin θ ₂=v ₁/ v ₁=n ₁/ n ₂Or n ₁Sin θ ₁=n ₂Sin θ ₂Relevant with refraction angle.Variable-definition in these formula is as follows: v ₁And v ₂Be the wave velocity by each medium, θ ₁And θ ₂Respectively the angle between normal plane (for the interface) and the incident light, and n ₁And n ₂Be refractive index.

Different liquid can have different refractive indexes.Therefore, the refractive index that contains the liquid of specific chemical composition can be different from the refractive index of the liquid that does not contain this chemical composition.In this embodiment, system detects suitable chemical association according to the refractive index that detects.If refraction angle is not in desired scope, then system can make flow controller prevent that liquid 501 from flowing out from reservoir vessel.Owing to must accurately detect the angle of refract light, therefore can use lasing light emitter to measure refraction angle.

In one embodiment, the mechanism for testing of small-sized rectification systems can also detect the pH level of batch of material, and chemicals is joined in the batch of material, and to keep the pH level approximately between the 4.0-5.0, this may be the optimum pH level of fermentation.With reference to Figure 17, in one embodiment, can use pH sensor 310 to detect the pH level of batch of material.The pH electrode 651 that the pH sensor can comprise and insulation tube seals, this insulation tube comprises the solution that contacts, has fixed pH value with the silver-silver chloride half cell.The electromotive force of film generation and stable comparing with reference to electromotive force will be crossed.PH electrode 651 has the porous structure that allows batch of material liquid inflow specimen zone.Power supply 659 links to each other with pH electrode 651 with voltmeter 655.PH electrode 651 is exposed in the batch of material liquid, and resistance and pH level are proportional.The output signal of pH electrode 651 is detected by voltmeter 655.

The pH level is defined as pH=-log (H+), the H+ hydrogen concentration that is solution under common room temperature wherein, and batch of material is provided is acid or alkaline indication.The pH scale in 0 (acidity) to the scope of 14 (alkalescence).The output terminal of pH sensor links to each other with controller 657, and this controller 657 with the pH codomain target pH value of the batch of material that detects relatively.In one embodiment, the target pH value of batch of material is 4-5, and perhaps desired value can be determined according to the look-up table that is stored in the storer.If the pH value is outside desired value or target zone, then system can give the alarm to the operator, perhaps automatically regulates the pH level by adding acidity or basic matterial.System can monitor the pH level continuously, and adjusts as required, to keep the pH level in target zone.

In another embodiment, mechanism for testing can also detect the amount of the dissolved oxygen DO in the batch of material.In order to realize optimum fermentation, batch of material comprises the dissolved oxygen DO of minimum flow.With reference to Figure 18, it shows oxygen induction system 312.The example technique that is used for the mensuration dissolved oxygen DO comprises dissolved oxygen sensor 805, and it comprises anode 807 and the negative electrode 809 that is immersed in the electrolyte in sensor body.Oxygen enters in the sensor by means of diffusing through permeable film 811, and in the reduction of negative electrode 809 places, to produce measurable electric current.Negative electrode 809 is hydrogen electrode, and has negative potential with respect to anode 807.The film 811 of oxygen permeable is also with batch of material liquid to be determined and anode 807 and negative electrode 809 isolation, and the oxygen transverse dispersion is by film 811.In the situation that there is not oxygen, negative electrode 809 is by hydrogen polarization, and the impedance electric current is mobile.When oxygen passes through film, negative electrode 809 depolarizations, and consume electronics.Negative electrode 809 take electrochemical means with hydrogen reduction as hydroxide ion, and anode 807 and unpolarized product reaction, and correspondingly discharge electronics.The inner member of oxygen and probe interacts, with generation current.The output signal of dissolved oxygen sensor can be the variable voltage take microvolt as unit, and detects the electric current that flows through circuit by galvanometer 805.Electrode pair 807 and 811 makes electric current to flow through to the direct proportional mode of the amount of the oxygen that enters sensor.The amplitude of electric current is directly the measuring of amount that enters the oxygen of probe.There are linear relationship in oxygen concentration and electric current.The output terminal of galvanometer 805 links to each other with controller 813, and this controller 813 is based on the level of the Current calculation dissolved oxygen DO that detects.

The amount of dissolved oxygen DO can affect fermentation rate in the batch of material.In one embodiment, dissolved oxygen levels be 10% or lower be acceptable, but higher level (for example 20%) can reduce fermentation rate.Can be by ventilative and batch of material is stirred to control the oxygen of dissolving.By stirrer being immersed in below the batch of material and reducing rotational speed, can reduce the level of dissolved oxygen DO.In one embodiment, system can monitor the level of dissolved oxygen DO, and the level of the dissolved oxygen DO by adjusting stirrer position and speed control batch of material is in predetermined scope.

Mechanism for testing also can be measured the resistance of batch of material.Electrolyte in the batch of material reduces resistance.In one embodiment, batch of material comprises the electrolyte of certain concentration.With reference to Figure 19, electric resistance sensor 313 contacts with the test container 503 that holds batch of material sample 501, and described container comprises two electrodes 507, and this electrode 507 has known length, be arranged in parallel, and the known distance " D " of being separated by.Voltage 511 is imposed on electrode 507, and the resistance of the batch material sample between the potential electrode 507.Highly purified batch of material solution has higher resistance.Yet when the salt as sodium chloride was dissolved in the water, sodium temporarily separated with chlorion.Sodium can become positively charged ion, and chlorion becomes electronegative example.Ion plays electrolytical effect in being dissolved in water the time, and so that batch of material liquid more conduct electricity.Therefore, when applying voltage for sensor electrode 507, the resistance of batch of material sample 501 and electrolytical concentration are inversely proportional.Higher concentration can reduce resistance.The pass of voltage and resistance is the electric current of the voltage of (R) resistance=(V)/(I).Sensor can comprise two electrodes 507, and is applied with fixing voltage along wire.Electrode is by making such as conductive materials such as metals, and should be corrosion-resistant.Can be by determine the resistance of batch of material with the electric current between the galvanometer 509 mensuration electrodes.Galvanometer 509 can link to each other with controller 513, and this controller 513 may add electrolyte, to adjust the resistance of batch of material.For example, if the batch of material resistance that detects in target zone, controller 513 allows small-sized rectification systems to continue to process batch of material.In contrast be that if the specimen of batch of material has the resistance that is higher than optimized scope, controller 513 can be tackled by add electrolyte in batch of material.If the resistance of measuring is lower than optimized scope, this may represent that batch of material contains excessive electrolyte, salt or other may reduce the impurity of fermenting speed.System can tackle by the following method: then the fermentation process that finishes batch of material cleans fermentation tank, to carry out removing all impurity before any additional fermentation process.In one embodiment, look-up table can comprise the optimal data of the sensing data of above-mentioned some or all.Then, system can the monitoring sensor data, and with sensing data and look-up table relatively, with the monitoring fermentation process.Owing to may relate to a large amount of data, so sensor is constructed to the part of central network, thereby analyzes and predicted batch fermentation process situation.

In addition, as the sensor of the batch of material that is used for the test fermentation tank, small-sized rectification systems can also comprise whether one or more detections have the sensor of the water that mixes with ethanol in the outlet of film separation system and/or hold-up vessel.Sensor links to each other with the controller of monitoring water cut.If exceed maximum water holding capacity, small-sized rectification systems controller can send alarm signal.Having water in the ethanol may have problems when it is used as automotive fuel.In one embodiment, small-sized rectification systems can detect the water in the ethanol in the hold-up vessel, and processes ethanol in the mode for water when before being pumped into vehicle ethanol being mixed with gasoline.In one embodiment, the maximum ratio of ethanol and water may detect the number percent of water as foundation in ethanol.If detect the water of high number percent in ethanol, the ethanol that then will hang down number percent mixes with gasoline, so that the percent of total of the water in the tanks minimizes.Perhaps, small-sized rectification systems can carry out extra processing, anhydrates to remove from ethanol by additional still-process.On the contrary, if detect the water of the extremely low number percent of existence, then the ethanol of higher concentration can be mixed with gasoline, be utilized to prevent excessive water.

As discussed above, small-sized rectification systems can be sent to other computing machine with data by network.Can process in a variety of ways and export by the sensing data that small-sized rectification systems detects.Small-sized rectification systems system has been described to carry out most operational data analysis, and the signal that therefore outputs to computer network comprises status information, perhaps raw material request or reparation/maintenance request.In one embodiment, system can be sent to remote maintenance computing machine (its operating software operates small-sized rectification systems) with whole original sensor data by network.The maintenance calculations machine can be analyzed the data that detect, and carries out some or all and calculate, and with the state of definite different system, and transmits raw material request or reparation/maintenance request.Then, the maintenance calculations machine can show this status information, perhaps raw material request or reparation/maintenance request.

In one embodiment, system can be according to viewer's difference and shows in a different manner sensing data.Original sensor data may be difficult to monitoring and understand for the user.Yet for the technician who highly trains, the visual display mode that comprises all raw data may be to get rid of the best means of the fault of small-sized rectification systems.Sensor output can also show to scheme tabular form " instrument panel " user model.User model can allow system to show by this way the sensor information that detects, and described mode provides basic operational status information with the simplified mode of easily being understood by the user.This figure tabular form instrument panel information can be output on the Internet, make it possible in the world Anywhere small-sized rectification systems is carried out on-line monitoring.User model figure tabular form instrument panel data can comprise: the level of raw material level, water, ethanol level, fermentation ends timetable, plan schedule in the future and raw material are carried date or services and repairs date.

Should be appreciated that system of the present invention is described with reference to specific embodiment, yet, in the situation of the scope that does not depart from system of the present invention, can carry out various interpolations, omission and change to these embodiments.For example, described identical process can be used for other device.Although the system of having described comprises various parts, should be appreciated that these parts and described structure can change, and rearrange with various other structures.

Claims

1. small-sized purifier comprises:

Fermentation tank, described fermentation tank is used for the batch of material that fermentation comprises water, sugar and yeast;

Be used for the distillation cascade of distillation ethanol, described distillation cascade has a plurality of segmentations and links to each other with described fermentation tank;

Bindiny mechanism, described bindiny mechanism are used for a plurality of segmentations of described distillation cascade are fixed together separably;

With the Universal joint structure that described distillation cascade links to each other, described Universal joint structure is used for described distillation cascade is vertically alignd;

With the filter mechanism that described distillation cascade links to each other, described filter mechanism be used for ethanol and moisture from; And

Be used for storing the hold-up vessel of ethanol, described hold-up vessel links to each other with described filter mechanism.

2. device according to claim 1, wherein said bindiny mechanism comprises a plurality of mortise pins and the hook around the external diameter that is fixed on described distillation cascade, described mortise pin and hook are fitted to each other, thereby the segmentation of described distillation cascade is linked to each other, and described mortise pin separates mutually with hook, thereby the segmentation of described distillation cascade is separated.

3. device according to claim 1 also comprises a plurality of perforated boards, and described perforated board is spaced apart and basically parallel to each other vertically, and is installed in the described distillation cascade along the direction that tilts.

4. device according to claim 3 also comprises the board component that links to each other with described a plurality of perforated boards, and wherein said board component is installed in the described distillation cascade.

5. device according to claim 1 also comprises the gyrator be used to the vertical alignment that keeps described distillation cascade, and this gyrator links to each other with described distillation cascade.

6. the turning axle of the rotor in the device according to claim 5, wherein said gyrator aligns with the vertical axes of described distillation cascade.

7. device according to claim 1 also comprises the perforated membrane that links to each other with described filter mechanism, this perforated membrane have a plurality of greater than stream molecule, but less than the hole of alcohol vapour molecule.

8. device according to claim 7, the diameter of the hole of wherein said perforated membrane is between 3 to 30 Ethylmercurichlorendimides.

9. small-sized purifier comprises:

With the distillation cascade that described fermentation tank links to each other, described distillation cascade is used for distillation ethanol;

With the registration mechanism that described distillation cascade links to each other, described registration mechanism is for the vertical alignment that keeps described distillation cascade;

With the filter mechanism that described distillation cascade links to each other, described filter mechanism be used for ethanol and moisture from;

With the hold-up vessel that described filter mechanism links to each other, described hold-up vessel is used for storing described ethanol;

Sensor, described sensor detect the physical property of described batch of material in fermentation step;

CPU, it receives the signal of the physical property of the described batch of material of expression from described sensor, and determines whether the physical property of described batch of material is in outside the tolerance interval, if described physical property is in outside the tolerance interval, then described CPU sends alarm signal.

10. device according to claim 9, wherein said distillation cascade has a plurality of segmentations, and bindiny mechanism is used for a plurality of segmentations of described distillation cascade are fixed together separably.

11. device according to claim 10, wherein said bindiny mechanism comprises a plurality of mortise pins and the hook around the external diameter that is fixed on described distillation cascade, described mortise pin and hook are fitted to each other, thereby the segmentation of distillation cascade is linked to each other, and described mortise pin separates mutually with hook, thereby the segmentation of described distillation cascade is separated.

12. device according to claim 9 also comprises a plurality of perforated boards, described perforated board is spaced apart and basically parallel to each other vertically, and is installed in the described distillation cascade along the direction that tilts.

13. device according to claim 12 also comprises the board component that links to each other with described a plurality of perforated boards, wherein said board component is installed in the described distillation cascade.

14. device according to claim 9 also comprises the gyrator that links to each other with described distillation cascade, this gyrator is for the vertical alignment that keeps described distillation cascade.

15. the turning axle of the rotor in the device according to claim 9, wherein said gyrator aligns with the vertical axes of described distillation cascade.

16. device according to claim 9, wherein said CPU is with described physical property and comprise that the look-up table of the optimized scope of described physical property compares.

17. device according to claim 9 also comprises the perforated membrane that links to each other with described filter mechanism, this perforated membrane have a plurality of greater than stream molecule, but less than the hole of ethanol vapour molecule.

18. device according to claim 17, the diameter of the described hole of wherein said perforated membrane is between 3 to 30 Ethylmercurichlorendimides.

19. device according to claim 18 also comprises:

The first apotheca, described the first apotheca are used for storing the first chemical composition; And

The first valve, described the first valve is controlled by described CPU, and is installed between described the first apotheca and the described fermentation tank;

Wherein said physical property is the concentration of described the first chemical composition in the described batch of material, if and the concentration of described the first chemical composition is positioned at outside the acceptable scope, then described CPU opens described the first valve, so that described the first chemical composition is joined in the described fermentation tank.

20. device according to claim 9 also comprises the thermoelectric mechanism for the described batch of material of heating and cooling, this thermoelectricity mechanism links to each other with described fermentation tank, and has two sheet metals that are installed in ceramic core body opposite side.